AbstractThe synthesis is reported of a new photochromic monomer,trans‐4‐(2‐methacryloxyethyloxy) azobenzene (MEAB), where the azobenzene chromophore is separated from the ester group by an ethylenoxy spacer arm. Comparative experiments show thattrans‐4‐methacryloxyazobenzene (MAB), having the azobenzene group directly attached to the ester functionality, does not homopolymerize or copolymerize with (−)‐menthyl methacrylate (MnMA) in the presence of different anionic initiators, whereas isotactic homopolymers and copolymers of MEAB can be obtained: the microstructure is described with reference to analogous atactic m